“We don’t know exactly what caused the malfunction. A spokesman for the constructors said in an email Thursday that they would follow "their process allowing for additional review.". Balam Arana, a retail manager who lives in Ossining, N.Y., was driving across the bridge Tuesday when vehicles in front of him stopped suddenly. Both are expected to open by July 2018. A red crane is lying flat on the Tappan Zee Bridge, which connects Rockland and Westchester counties. It happened on the Rockland County side of the bridge, which crosses the Hudson River to connect Westchester County. Andrew Cuomo moved quickly to anchor press briefings at the site. “It was a little bit slow in the beginning but then it just crashed,” said Mr. Arana, 39 years old. Six of … Jeff Loughlin, It carried about 50 million vehicles in 2013, according to its operator, the New York State Thruway Authority. In recent years, the Tappan Zee has been carrying 40% more traffic than it was designed to handle, according to the authority. "The safety of our workers and the surrounding community is our top priority, which is why we have been recognized as one of the safest major construction projects in the country," wrote Tappan Zee Constructors spokesman Damien LaVera. On July 19, a crane driving piles for the new Tappan Zee Bridge's Westchester-bound span collapsed across all lanes of the current bridge, stopping traffic for most of the afternoon. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8, Appeared in the July 20, 2016, print edition as '. This disaster on the heels of another crane collapse in New York City. Given that the injuries were minor and the bridge was to be nearly entirely reopened by evening, Mr. Cuomo said, “This was nothing short of a miracle.”. ', Copyright © 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved, cover of President It was just five months ago in Lower Manhattan that the collapse of a crawler crane's boom in high winds killed one and injured three people. A giant construction crane (pictured) toppled off the new Tappan Zee Bridge being constructed north of New York City and collapsed across the busy span it … proposed budget for fiscal 2016. At least four people were injured A … All but one of the Tappan Zee Bridge’s lanes were set to reopen by Wednesday morning following a construction-crane collapse that blocked traffic for hours on the heavily trafficked span across the Hudson River. A crane toppled over on the Tappan Zee Bridge Tuesday just after noon, closing the bridge indefinitely as officials assess the damage. Investigation of the July 19, 2016 Crane Collapse during Pile Driving for New Tappan Zee Bridge over Hudson River, Rockland County, NY - 5 - 1. Investigators Probe Crane Collapse on Tappan Zee Bridge By Verena Dobnik • Published July 20, 2016 • Updated on July 20, 2016 at 7:33 pm What to Know A crane … These concerns, together with traffic overcapacity and increased maintenance costs, escalated the serious discussions already ongoing about replacing the Tappan Zee with a tunnel or a new bridge. The bridge has seven lanes. But the accident became a fleeting setback for the $4 billion Tappan Zee replacement, one of the largest public works projects under way in the U.S. Mr. Cuomo said the crane collapse wouldn’t delay the project. proposed budge, Video Investigation: Proud Boys Were Key Instigators in Capitol Riot, Virgin vs. Hyperloop TT: The Race to Make Musk’s Moonshot a Reality, The Science Behind How the Coronavirus Affects the Brain, Indian Farmers Break Barricades, Clash With Police in Massive Protests, Most GOP Senators Back Motion Challenging Trump Impeachment Trial, News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. The neck of the red crane and … The crane, which was new, used a vibratory hammer to put in pilings. Mr. Loughlin identified the crane as a new It was funded in part by a $1.6 billion federal loan. The crane, made by Manitowoc Cranes, was the only one of its kind working on the bridge. The Tappan Zee Bridge carried more than 148,000 vehicles on the average weekday in the third quarter last year, according to the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council. To accommodate a potential increase in traffic, the lower level of the George Washington would remain open overnight, instead of being closed for a construction project, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Tuesday. Construction on the new Tappan Zee Bridge has been underway for three years. —Josh Barbanel contributed to this article. Write to Andrew Tangel at Andrew.Tangel@wsj.com and Joseph De Avila at joseph.deavila@wsj.com, Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. According to the contract between the two, the state can levy heavy fines when lanes are closed, impacting traffic. Traffic is not moving as we take a … “It is a routine task,” said Terry Towle, president of Tappan Zee construction. “It could have been any of us.”, The bridge’s northbound lanes, which handle traffic from Westchester County, were reopened in time for the evening rush Tuesday. All lanes are closed, and at least one person injured, after construction equipment crashes down on Westchester-Rockland connector The New York State Transit Authority announced shortly after noon that all lanes across the Tappan Zee Bridge span will be blocked indefinitely following the collapse of a construction crane a little more than an hour ago near the 15-mile marker. All but one of the bridge’s southbound lanes were open Tuesday evening. THE CITATION: View the citation from OSHA to the Tappan Zee Constructors, WHAT'S IN A NAME: Conservative Party says name new TZB after Brinks victims. As the new structure rises above the Hudson, traffic is expected to begin crossing one of the two new spans this year. Crane collapse blocks New York's Tappan Zee Bridge "When the crane collapsed it went across both sides of what we call the old Tappan Zee Bridge," … Email us, along with your contact information, at gnyltrs@wsj.com. Manitowoc Co. The damage wouldn’t likely result in any long-term or significant structural damage, said A massive construction crane collapsed onto the Tappan Zee Bridge Tuesday afternoon, injuring five and shuttering the span to traffic. Letters will be edited for brevity and clarity. Two of those violations were considered serious. The bridge project is one of the safest big construction projects in the country. Massive crane collapses on the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York - National | Globalnews.ca Emergency crews are responding after a crane collapsed on … Located about 20 miles north of New York City, the Tappan Zee Bridge was opened to traffic in 1955. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a serious violation Wednesday, but the bridge's southernmost lane had a hole punctured through the road deck, was the only one of its kind working on the bridge, one of the safest big construction projects in the country, also was fined $9,000 for three health and safety code violations in 2015, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. STATE OF TRANSPORTATION: What's on tap for 2017? The Tappan Zee’s replacement is a marquee project for Mr. Cuomo, who has staked much of his legacy on improving the state’s transportation. Additionally, the vibratory hammer had leaky hydraulic hoses, OSHA said. In 2011, the estimated $4 billion project to replace it took shape. The agency said the the vibratory hammer crews were using to extract and pre-position a partially driven pile came loose unexpectedly and that the capacity of the crane was lower than required. The governor said it wasn’t clear when workers would reopen the remaining lane, which was more damaged by the crane. The crane didn’t fall onto any cars, but three people suffered minor injuries when two cars collided after the collapse, a law-enforcement official said. Last year, the old Tappan Zee was featured on the cover of President executive director of the Institute of Bridge Engineering at the University at Buffalo. What we know. Crane Collapses on Tappan Zee Bridge Jeff Loughlin, business manager of Local 137 International Union of Operating Engineers, which represents the … The collapse of Minnesota's I-35W Mississippi River bridge in 2007 raised worries about the Tappan Zee's structural integrity. The $3.9 billion project, which is being built alongside the old span, is expected to be completed by 2018. The crane’s operator wasn’t hurt, but another construction worker was among the injured. Crane Collapses on Tappan Zee Bridge Collapse occurred around noon Tuesday on the Rockland County side of the span. The collapse of Minnesota's I-35W Mississippi River bridge in 2007 raised worries about the Tappan Zee Bridge's structural integrity. At least four people suffered minor injuries after a towering red crane being used to build a replacement for the bridge crashed onto the old roadway below. Jerome O’Connor, business manager of local 137 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, said the crane was a crawler crane whose vibratory hammer was designed to plant pilings deep into the river bed. The collapse and cleanup of the crane – one of the smaller pile-driving cranes employed by the consortium Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC) – was expected to be only a minor setback for the project. “It’s one of three issues,” said "The Tappan Zee Bridge is a vital part of the state and region's transportation network and crews have been working around the clock to fix the damage from Tuesday's crane collapse… For example, if lanes shuttered on the existing bridge to facilitate new bridge construction don't open on time, Tappan Zee Constructors can be fined up to $1,500 a minute. The crane crumpled across every one of the existing bridge’s traffic lanes and Gov. Six of seven lanes on the Tappan Zee Bridge are back in service today, after a crane building the bridge's replacement collapsed across the current span's roadway Tuesday. No one was killed and only a few people suffered only minor injuries in the collapse, which Gov. These concerns, together with traffic overcapacity and increased maintenance costs, escalated the serious discussions already ongoing about replacing the Tappan Zee with a tunnel or a new bridge. The federal government is fining the Tappan Zee Constructors more than $12,000 for last July's crane collapse. The red boom of the contruction crane … The crane was … The collapse occurred around noon Tuesday, between workday rush hours when the bridge serves as a critical link for New York City-area commuters. Terry Towle, Right now. A new replacement bridge has been under construction beside the old bridge, several cranes have been helping to construct that new bridge. Tappan Zee Bridge Edmund J Coppa A massive crane collapsed on the Tappan Zee Bridge Tuesday, crushing part of the aging span, spewing chunks … Mr. Cuomo said wind wasn’t a factor in the collapse, but an investigation would seek to determine its cause. Mr. Loughlin said the manufacturer’s reps were already on the scene Tuesday because it was a new crane. Riled yeah. Then he heard the groan of metal breaking apart and saw the crane slam into concrete just a few car lengths away. Last February when man was … A crane toppled over onto the Tappan Zee Bridge shortly after noon on Tuesday, injuring four people, but none seriously. https://www.wsj.com/articles/crane-collapses-on-tappan-zee-bridge-1468947532. Barack Obama’s The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a serious violation Wednesday, accusing the constructors — the consortium of contractors tasked with designing and building the $3.9 billion Tappan Zee Bridge replacement — of failing to keep a safe work site, potentially exposing employees to injury by the falling crane. © 2021 www.lohud.com. Cover page photo was taken from Thornton Tomasetti’s inspection report. Things were almost back to normal on the Tappan Zee Bridge Wednesday — a day after a crane came crashing down on the busy roadway. Six of the bridge's seven lanes were reopened that evening, after the debris was removed, but the bridge's southernmost lane had a hole punctured through the road deck that took longer to repair. Andrew Cuomo to dubbed "miraculous.". “It’s a problem with the crane, it’s a problem with the hammer or it’s operator error. It is still unclear whether or not the Thruway Authority intends to or has fined the Tappan Zee Constructors itself for the accident. “It’s not a special task. Transcript for Crane Collapses on New York's Tappan Zee Bridge Happens in bridge is an absolute parking lot. A crane collapsed on the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York on Tuesday, injuring two workers and three motorists — but not hitting any cars. Crane Collapse Injures Five A construction crane on the Tappan Zee Bridge toppled Tuesday afternoon, injuring five and interrupting traffic for hours on end. The new bridge is expected to fully open in two years. The George Washington Bridge, by contrast, carried nearly 294,000 on the average weekday then. On July 19, a crane driving piles for the new Tappan Zee Bridge's Westchester-bound span collapsed across all lanes of the current bridge, stopping traffic for most of the afternoon. Jul 20, 2016 - A crane collapsed onto the Tappan Zee Bridge and shut down the span in both directions Tuesday afternoon. The crane was holding a 121,000-pound vibratory hammer, which drives piles for the bridge, when it collapsed, he said. “It’s definitely repairable,” Mr. O’Connor said. GREENWICH — A crane collapse on the nearby Tappan Zee Bridge in New York could provide a traffic nightmare for anyone traveling to or from … And that’s what the investigation will look at.”. In its citation, OSHA said the crane struck both the standing bridge and a cofferdam, a structure that allows construction work below the waterline, where employees were working. Please include your city and state. Mr. Towle said the crane was new and didn’t show any previous problems. Have something to say about an article in Greater New York? model that typically had a boom length of from 150 to 328 feet. A new bridge is being constructed next to the current one, and it appears the crane was part of that construction project. According to the citation, Tappan Zee Constructors can attempt to either adjust or contest the citation and penalty. The cab of the crane remained upright and wasn’t struck by the boom, Mr. Loughlin said. Tappan Zee Constructors also was fined $9,000 for three health and safety code violations in 2015, negotiated down from a $14,000 penalty. 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